Abstract: The invention is directed to a sewage treatment system comprising a tank in which biological treatment by microorganisms occur in mixed liquor and a circulating loop for removing mixed liquor from the tank and returning oxygen enriched aerated mixed liquor to the tank. The mixed liquor is removed and returned to the tank through a pair spaced apart submerged filters. One alternative construction is to use a pressure tank in the circulation loop to increase the percentage of dissolved oxygen in the aerated mixed liquor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a semi-continuous process for removing heavy metals, substantially reducing volatile suspended solids and substantially destroying indicator bacteria from municipal sludges, which comprises: a) adding 1 to 3 g of sulphur per liter to a volume of municipal sludge and allowing the sulphur oxidizing thiobacilli initially present in said sludge to proliferate under aerobic conditions in said sludge being agitated until the pH of said sludge is lowered to about 1.5 to 2.

Abstract: The invention provides a reactor apparatus including a fluid bed reactor containing a media bed composed of particulate solids and biomass adhered thereto. The reactor apparatus also includes a biomass monitoring system for measuring changes in the size of the media bed and for activating a biomass growth control system when conditions with the reactor call for removal of excess biomass. The biomass monitoring system includes a vertical tubular member that is supported in the reactor and that serves to isolate a parameter or condition indicative of the size of the media bed. The biomass monitoring system also includes a sensing device for measuring changes in the isolated parameter or condition, and a mechanism for activating the biomass growth control system when signaled by the sensing device.

Abstract: An aerobic sewage treatment method and system includes a tank divided by a baffle into at least a treatment chamber and a settling chamber. A return flow pipe at the normal liquid level, from the settling chamber into the aerating chamber, has on its treatment chamber side a tee fitting aimed to the side of the treatment chamber, along the baffle separating it from the settling chamber. Floating particles near the settling chamber discharge thus flow back into the treatment chamber for further aeration and reduction. Flow through such return pipe is induced by a stream from the aerating unit directed against the surface of the turned end of the return pipe, whereby some of that flow moves along the pipe and draws a return flow into the aerating chamber. The stream for causing this return flow is obtained from the discharge of an improved aerating unit which discharges a few directed streams, as opposed to an annular stream of greater velocity but lesser total mass flow.

Abstract: A physical-biochemical process system and apparatus for removal of toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other organics from contaminated groundwater or wastewater is described. This process system involves influent pumping groundwater or wastewater treatment by air stripping, biological oxidation and powdered activated carbon (PAC) adsorption in an enclosed gas stripping bioreactor, air purification by granular activated carbon contactor, and recycling of GAC-purified air for further groundwater or wastewater treatment. The bioreactor effluent is processed processed by a clarifier, a filter and a disinfection unit. The clarifier sludge is partially recycled to the bioreactor and partially wasted. The process system is cost-effective and eliminates the problem of secondary air contamination caused by conventional gas stripping tower and coventional biological treatment processes.

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing an economical process for purifying water which can produce clean water by treating polluted water, which contains agricultural chemicals, organic solvents (particularly, halocarbon) and surface active agents (particularly, those with side chains) which are hard to treat according to a conventional activated sludge process, under moderate conditions readily and promptly, and also, which process is characterized by adding titanium oxide and iron salt into water to be treated, and irradiating light thereupon.

Abstract: A process is provided for the treatment of water containing sulphide wherein the sulphide is oxidized in an aerobic reactor having a minimum sulphide sludge load. The minimum sulphide load is at least 10 mg of sulphide per mg of the nitrogen present in the sludge per hour, the sludge load being calculated on the basis of the sulphide oxidizing part of the biomass. The minimum sulphide load may also be defined as 25 mg of sulphide per liter of reactor material per hour. The sulphide can be largely oxidized to elemental sulphur which is then separated and reused. Waste water also containing organic matter in addition to varying levels of sulphide is purified without interference of filamentous bacteria using a two-step aerobic process. The process for sulphide removal can be used for the treatment of waste water having high levels of sulphur compounds such as sulphate, sulphite and thiosulphate by first reducing these sulphur compounds in an aerobic step.

Abstract: The present invention provides a water activator for treating tap water under an electrostatic field to activate the tap water. The water activator of the invention includes: an insulating base (1); a power unit (2) mounted on the insulating base (1) and having an insulating transformer (12) disposed therein; an electrode plate (11) placed on a top face of the power unit (2) and covered with an insulating material (11a); and a tank unit (3) replaceably mounted on the power unit (2), the tank unit (3) having a water reservoir (14) for storing tap water and a cock (17) attached to a lower end of the water reservoir (14). One end of a secondary output voltage of the insulating transformer (12) is insulated and disconnected while the other end of the secondary output voltage is connected to the electrode plate (11).

Abstract: A particulate material, as well as a method of manufacturing and using the material, for promoting growth of petroleum degrading bacteria to aid in bioremediation of oil spills on water and in wetlands which consists of a core of microbial available nutrients having a coating, comprised of oleic acid and either stearic acid, palmitic acid, or a mixture thereof, which is lipophilic, and biodegradable, for retaining the nutrient in the oil for gradual release to microorganisms between applications of the material.

Abstract: A process for removal of manganese from water which includes the steps of (i) preparing a fluidized bed of particles (eg. magnetite) in a bioreactor capable of adsorbing a strongly adherent biofilm of microorganisms (e.g. pedomicrobium manganicum) metabolising manganese to provide an actively propagated biomass, and (ii) passing a stream of water through the fluidized bed where manganese is adsorbed by said biomass and is thus removed from the stream of water to provide a purified effluent of water exiting from the bioreactor.

Abstract: The present invention features methods and apparatus for processing waste material held in an aqueous medium. A sorbent is added to the aqueous medium. The sorbent reduces the effective concentration of waste material allowing biodegration of the waste material in solution. A preferred sorbent is rubber derived from ground or shredded tires.

Abstract: The invention greatly reduces the amount of ammonia in sewage plant effluent. The process of the invention has three main steps. The first step is dewatering without first digesting, thereby producing a first ammonia-containing stream having a low concentration of ammonia, and a second solids-containing stream. The second step is sending the second solids-containing stream through a means for separating the solids from the liquid and producing an aqueous stream containing a high concentration of ammonia. The third step is removal of ammonia from the aqueous stream using a hydrothermal process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for wastewater treatment to minimize solid-waste by-products requiring disposal in a landfill site. The system for carrying out the process utilizes initial screening and dissolved air flotation processes to remove a large portion of the solid-waste matter within the wastewater. The wastewater is then processed by anaerobic and aerobic means to clarify the wastewater to a point where it may be discharged into normal sanitary sewage systems. The solid-waste matter removed during the process is dewatered and composted. The composted matter may be used for land applications such as fertilizing or fill dirt.

Abstract: The liquid waste after pulp bleaching can be treated by using a microorganism having lignin degradation activity and having been pre-cultured in a culture medium supplemented with the liquid waste after pulp bleaching and/or lignin related substances, the cultured products thereof and/or the treated products thereof.The scarcely degradable colored ingredients and/or chlorinated phenols contained in the liquid waste after pulp bleaching can be decomposed and removed, whereby the efficient treatment of the liquid waste after pulp bleaching can be achieved.

Abstract: The waste water which is discharged from the anaerobic treatment stages of biological waste water treatment plants still contains highly volatile organic substances which, if not biodegraded, escape into the ambient air and lead to unwelcome odors. Also, the exhaust air of the anaerobic treatment stage may contain such highly volatile substances. An escape into the ambient air can be prevented if the waste water which is discharged from the anaerobic treatment stage is aerated with exhaust air sucked off from the anaerobic stage and if this exhaust air, after the aeration, is then fed to a spray washer and compost filter. The water for the spray washer is taken from the discharge of the anaerobic stage and returns there.

Abstract: The method of separating impurities from an aqueous solution by means of rotating tile aqueous solution at high speeds until a high pressure and a high temperature is reached. At that time the impurities are separated from the solution. The aqueous solution is kept at high temperatures and pressures until the impurities are separated from the liquid. Preferably, a device providing a centrifugal force, such as a centrifuge, is used to achieve the high temperatures and pressures which should preferably be no lower than 705.4.degree. F. and 3,208 psi, respectively.

Abstract: A media panel for a rotating biological treatment apparatus for treating waste water, the rotating biological treatment apparatus including a rotatable shaft having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of media panel assemblies stacked on the shaft and each including a hub mounted on the shaft and a plurality of media panels mounted on the hub, the media panel comprising a planar member having a first side and a second side, and the planar member being mountable on the hub to extend normal to the longitudinal axis of the shaft to form a portion of a generally disk-shaped media panel assembly extending normal to the longitudinal axis of the shaft; the first side of the planar member including at least one first set of alternating grooves and ridges, and the second side of the media panel including at least one second set of alternating grooves and ridges; the grooves and ridges of the first and second sets of alternating grooves and ridges each having a first radially inner portion, a second radially inner port

Abstract: An aquarium filter system having a rotatably mounted filter body. The filter body is structured such that when mounted with a portion of the filter body submerged in moving water, rotational movement is imparted to the filter body by the moving water. As a result of the rotational movement, at least a portion of the filter body is alternately exposed to the water and the atmosphere. This fosters the growth of aerobic bacteria on the surface of the filter body. The aerobic bacteria reduces the level of toxins within the aquarium water.

Abstract: A wastewater treatment system for treating wastewater containing undesirable pollutants which comprises a housing having a bottom and defining an internal chamber. The internal chamber is provided with a first and second baffle member which cooperate to define a mixing zone and a separation zone. Wastewater (containing a sufficient amount of air so that the air present in the wastewater exceeds the solubility of air in the wastewater) is introduced into the mixing zone of the internal chamber, and an aerated water is sprayed into the wastewater to produce a quantity of air bubbles sufficient to promote the flotation of pollutants having a density approximately equal to that of the wastewater to form a froth. Pollutants having a density substantially greater than the density of water settled to the bottom portion of the housing. An effluent reservoir assembly (which forms a reservoir zone) is spatially disposed from the second baffle member so that a quiescent zone is formed therebetween.

Abstract: A chemically disinfected sewage sludge-containing material comprising (1) an aqueous slurry of sewage sludge-containing material having a solids content in the range of about 10 to 30 wt. %; and (2) a chemical disinfectant comprising a water soluble silicate of sodium in the amount of 5 to 20 wt. % (basis dry wt. of said sewage sludge). In one embodiment, a pumpable chemically disinfected sewage sludge-containing material was produced by the steps of (1) dewatering sewage sludge to produce an aqueous slurry having a solids content of about 10 to 30 wt. %; (2) shearing the dewatered sewage sludge from (1) at a temperature in the range of about ambient to 230.degree. F. and at a shear rate of at least 30 per second for a period in the range of about 0.5 to 180 minutes; and (3) mixing the following materials together at a temperature in the range of about ambient to 230.degree. F. to produce a pumpable aqueous slurry having a solids content in the range of about 30 to 65 wt.